( o1 - AUDIO )

[halves]

[Deep breaths, Lou, deep breaths.

He's still practicing this exercise about a split second before the recording begins, shifting his focus to it immediately, superficially ready to laugh and quip at this silly challenge someone has proposed (forced) him to take part in.

It's nothing but pure nerves, he assures you.]

This is really fucked up. Just thought I should let you know.

[There's an exhale, not quite a laugh. See? Nothing but nerves.]

I guess I'm supposed to say hi now.

Hi. I'm the new guy.

I'd like to know what the fuck you've done to my cat.

Comments

[dignity_misery]

A lot of people land in it.

[halves]

Guess I just wasn't drunk enough.

[He wasn't drunk at all.

Was he?]

Did that happen to you?

[dignity_misery]

No. I got a rooftop.

[halves]

With a nice view, I hope.

[Ugh. Keep it going, Lou, you might actually believe you're not going out of your mind.]

[dignity_misery]

If you go for that sort of thing.

[Being kidnapped. Losing your grasp on everything you've worked so hard to keep hold of.]

I can meet you at the fountain in about fifteen minutes

[halves]

[It takes him a beat to answer, nodding twice.]

Okay. Do that. [He can do that too. Sure.

Eventually he blurts out something that just doesn't quite roll out as naturally as he'd like.] Thanks, Carla.

[dignity_misery]

[Paaaause. And then she snorts. That was definitely weird, definitely not what she would have expected from him. She runs a hand back through her hair.]

Nothing better to do.

[halves]

[He couldn't smile at that if he wanted to. Lou's already distracted by the time he's ready to disconnect, trying not to sound too hopeless.]

Fifteen minutes.

[le action?]

[dignity_misery]

[She doesn't mind all the much, just turns off the feed and spends a few minutes getting ready. Possibly the blood-stained jeans are not the ones to wear. She doesn't look entirely feral when she heads down to the square, has had her wardrobe slowly improved by interested patrons. The warehouse isn't far, it takes her less than the allotted time to make her way over, sitting on the edge of the fountain and staring off at a guy with an ice cream cart like she's contemplating robbing him of it.]

[halves]

[There's restlessness in the way he paces back and forth, hands in his pockets, running his fingers through his hair, wondering why the fuck they couldn't just let him keep his cigarettes. Some people give him passing looks, most of them just carry on with their walk. Lou looks like someone they'd be better off avoiding.

He hesitates when he sees her, but there hasn't been anyone else waiting where they are for a while. The memory from the feed is recent, but seeing someone's face on a screen for the first time rarely ever means features get the chance to really stick.]

Carla.

[It sounds like it's two safe steps away from a question.]

[dignity_misery]

[It's a popular place to meet, everyone knows where it is and it's fairly equidistant from most locations above ground. That's what happens when you build a city around a clock. With her legs stretched out in front of her (probably hoping someone will trip) she looks up at Lou's voice. She feels hesitant herself. Maybe she should tell him she's just like she remembers, except her memory isn't all that clear. She lost a lot of it in the years since she last saw him, bit blown out by the bullet and other bits decaying away. She shifts a hand to the back of her neck, rolling one of the metal piercings there between her thumb and forefinger.]

You made it. What kind of bar do you want?

[halves]

[He drops his gaze, shaking his head softly at something he keeps to himself. He made it.

But first things first:] Don't tell me you don't smoke, either.

[dignity_misery]

[Her smile is wry, she still can't decide whether the deja vu is a comfort or not.]

I don't. I'm not in the habit of poisoning myself for recreation.

[halves]

[It irritates him when people say things like that, like they haven't just found some other kind of self-destructive hobby. But mild mannered Lewis Puckett keeps it to himself.]

Can't say I blame you.

[Mild mannered Lewis Puckett is also full of shit.]

I don't have any money.

[dignity_misery]

[She knows it's irritating. That's why she says it that way, and she tilts her head at him with the same mocking smile she'd given him in a night club when she was twenty-four and just wanted to see how far she could push him.]

No one does, when they get here. I'm paying today.

[halves]

No - you don't have to. I just... need to clear my mind.

[Full of shit? Full of shit.]

[dignity_misery]

It's the only time I'm offering without expecting something in return.

[Your objections are denied.]

Come on, I'll take you to the Blue Light.

[halves]

[Truth be told, Lou doesn't really stick to an idea when it's not really his. It just takes him long enough to stare at her, lips parted before he looks off and nods.]

Fine. [Lou isn't gonna try to sound reluctant, either.] Okay.

[dignity_misery]

[Carla almost never goes into this place, she prefers the Raven, Underground, but she's not really sure that taking Lou into a vampire bar will end well. But she knows the managers of both, and she's sure that Princess Rosella will gladly give them a newcomers discount or something similarly invented. She's sure there will be someone for him to bum a cigarette off of too.

It's almost a tradition really, but since Carla didn't drink she'd gotten breakfast instead. Food was a good anxiety dampener.]

[halves]

[He just asks for beer - something cheap that hopefully will last, even if without much effect, which is probably for the best. The desire for a cigarette is postponed while that first gulp becomes a little too eager.]

[dignity_misery]

[She leaves him alone for a few minutes. Really, she doesn't need to say anything, everyone is used to the confused newcomers around here, people answer questions openly and easily, they offer jobs and apartments. This place would be hard to live in, for everyone, if the newcomers weren't acclimated quick, people came and left again entirely too often.]

Better?

[halves]

[There's a deep exhale before he answers. Which should be answer enough in itself.]

Yes; thanks.

[He doesn't really know what to say after that. He just wants someone to do the thinking and fetch more answers for him.]

[dignity_misery]

You're not going to like this place.

[A simple enough statement.]

[halves]

[He makes a face, arching his brows softly with pressed lips. That's obvious, isn't it.

This is the part where he asks,] Why not?

[dignity_misery]

That's how the city is. It's going to leave you humiliated, at some point.